"The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it." ― V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River

Monday, October 10, 2005

Crush on Krrish...Hrithik Roshan in Singapore

Anybody who reads newspapers in Singapore would know that Hrithik Roshan is in town with his helmsman father Rakesh Roshan to shoot Krrish, the sequel of his box office blockbuster, Koi Mil Gaya--a Bollywood reinterpretation of Spielberg's ET.Hrithik is the name of a rush for Bollywood lovers. When he burst forth on the Hindi movie scene a couple of years ago with Kaho Na Pyar Hai, girls began swooning in the cinema halls and on meeting him in person. He became a superstar, challenging the three Khans--Shahrukh, Salman and Amir Khan-- who have been ruling Bollywood for more than a decade now. But soon, his films began to tank at the box office (except Mission Kashmir)and his star power decreased. He emerged a winner again with his father's Koi Mil Gaya. Now he is working on the sequel of the film. He is also doing another film, Dhoom 2 in which he plays a negative character. He is, even now, one of the most powerful stars after Amitabh Bachchan and the three Khans. Saif Khan and Amitabh's son, Abhishek, can be called his competitors who have delivered many hits this year.

On my wife's insistence, I went to see Hrithik on the sets of Krrish. When we got wind of him, he was shooting at the Expo. When we reached there, the shooting was on. Hrithik, in an orange T-shirt over a light blue shirt and white sports trousers, was reviewing his action shots on a monitor. The crew was readying the lights to shoot a reaction shot of the heroine, Priyanka Chopra, a former Miss World. She was dressed in a greenish short dress and was supposed to clap at Hrithik after one of his heroic fights. Priyanka had to give about 10 retakes for a simple reaction shot. She was being directed by Rakesh and the action director Tony Chan (?). Hrithik had done his martial arts training in Hong Kong for this film. He had already suffered injuries shooting this film in Bombay. The film was also shot in Manali for forty days, revealed one of the crew members. It will be shot again in Mumbai and will be released in June 2006.

While the scene was being set up for Priyanka, Hrithik was getting his hair blow-dried and combed. He has grown long locks for the movie. When my dare-devil wife tried to take a picture of him from the front, he still getting his hair set, Hrithik got upset. "Excuse me," he said, a little loudly, bringing a large mirror in front of his face as a cover. "Ok, ok, no problems," said my wife and moved on. She had already taken his photo.

After Priyanka's take, the crew broke for lunch. The director, the stars, the ADs, and chief technicians ate their lunch together on a makeshift dinining table. The rest of the crew sat on the floor, here and there, and had their grub, complaining about the food. Maybe they were missing their Bombay food.

Many fans had assembled by then. They all wanted to photograph Hrithik and get themselves photographed with him. Post-lunch, a lady with a child began to shoot a video of Hrithik from afar. He was still sitting around the dining table with Priyanka when he noticed this. He immediately sent an emissary asking the lady not to videograph him. He was polite though.

In the next few minutes, Hrithik allowed people to have a contact session. The crowd jumped at him--kids, men, girls and aunties. For about five minutes, everyone got a chance to get a picture with Hrithik and Priyanka. It was an amazing moment. I had never seen fans mob a star before, and it all felt so surreal. The stars who were, till a few minutes ago, not even looking at the bystanders, were now all smiles for the cameras. That is showbiz.

I shot my wife beside Hrithik and Priyanka too. Her pilgrimage was over. We returned home.

On the way, my wife asked me: "Why didn't you get photographed with Htrithik and Priyanka?"

"Because I am not star struck," I said.

In fact, I was. Maybe only a little but I sure was. I was crazy about Bollywood stars, my demigods, when I was a kid. With time, the charm of Bollywood has worn off. And so has the magnetism of Bollywood stars for me. My demigods have changed.

Thanks Shoonya. I agree with your comments. Hrithik has his own style and a fan following. I am sure if given a chance, he too will emerge as an actor of susbstance. I had never imagined that the Devgan of films like Phool aur Kaante would give Company and Gangajal. Abhishek was good in his debut film, then he had a spate of flops and now he has risen again. It is a matter of time. Give Hrithik time and he might turn out to be a damn good actor. Wasn't he good in Mission Kashmir?

Oh, I saw some filming of a bollywood dance in trafalgar square yesterday! i wonder what it was for. anyway, Hrithik is not quite my cup of tea - Amitabh Bachaan, anytime and I saw him in Selfridges a few years ago.

"Because I am not star struck" - I am impressed, really. I too was a normal human being, who belived in following the stars. I was a great fan of Shahrukh from his Deewaana, Darr, and Baazigar days.

I remember parting my hair from the middle - just becase "he" does it so. I remember wearing a "Tabeez" just because Azharuddin wears one. Now, when I get a glimpse of his at the Indo-Arab Mosque, Banjara Hills, in the Friday prayers, a quaint thought comes to mind: "Does he knows how many tuitions I bunked to see him bat, how many times I advocated his case in front of my disgruntled friends, how many times I offered 'Namaaz' thanking the almighty for his good knocks", does he knows..."

The list is endless. But now, when I shake hands with him, see him, offer him "As Salamu Alaikum", somehow the madness of my school and college days is missing. Perhaps, the detachment started when he was found guilty by the CBI. Ah!, all my prayers, all my tears, all the time I spent watching his batting...

I guess the level of sophistication, or perhaps maturity has improved over a period of time. Thank God, I am no great fan of Kaif, Ifran, or Sania Mirza for that matter.

"Was mad about him in the 80s. Never had the opportunity of meeting him."

Zaf Bhai, I was equally, or perhaps more mad about Azzu Miyaan. Today, when ever I see him - mostly on Fridays - he still appears a celibrity to me, and also to the poor veil clad old lady who keeps the shoes of the belivers, while they offer prayers (it was moving to see her once addressing him as Azharuddin Sahib, and of course was disgruntled when the Sahib gave 50 rupess tip to her competitior mistakenly, while she was the one who was looking after his sandals).

He is still a celibrity to the poor old man who generously offered to exchange his shady place with Azhar ("Aap yahan aajaiye, wahan dhoop hain") in the scorching May heat (though Azhar modestly denied the offer saying - "dhoop hue to kya hua", and said his prayers in the same place).

People have different ways to exibit their expectations, their gratitude, their love to their idol - even though a fallen idol, in the case.

As for me, I think I am yet to get over "the (once?) modest Hyderabadi" completely.

Hrithik Roshan is a very famous Bollywood actor known for his Greek god looks and versatile acting. He has starred in a lot of critical as well as commercially successful movies. He started his career with the film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai opposite actress Amisha Patel which was a blockbuster hit. Check Out hrithik roshan movies list